- What PE-S Stands For on This Site
- Who Runs the Exam and How It Is Delivered
- Four Sections, Not One Exam
- What the Exam Actually Tests
- Choosing Buildings or Bridges for Depth
- Question Style and Scoring
- Fees, Registration and Scheduling Mechanics
- What the Published Pass Data Shows
- Who Hires Licensed Structural Engineers
- The April 2027 Format Change
- Sequencing Your Preparation Around the Exam's Structure
- Frequently Asked Questions
- PE-S on this site means NCEES's Principles and Practice of Engineering - Structural exam, commonly called the SE exam.
- The current exam is four separately scheduled computer-based sections: Vertical and Lateral, each with a breadth and a depth part.
- Each section costs USD 350, so one attempt at all four totals USD 1,400 before board fees.
- Depth requires choosing Buildings or Bridges, and the same choice must be used in both components.
What PE-S Stands For on This Site
On pesprep.com, "PE-S" is shorthand for the Principles and Practice of Engineering - Structural examination. NCEES labels it "PE Structural," and most engineers search for it as the SE exam. It is the licensing examination for structural engineers and is a separate credential path from the PE Civil exam with a structural focus. The abbreviation is only a site convention, so if you see "PE-S" elsewhere online, confirm that it refers to the structural engineering licensure exam before relying on any fee, date, or pass-rate claim.
If you want other angles on the same question, see our related explainers: What Is PE-S?, What Does PE-S Stand For?, and PE-S Meaning.
Who Runs the Exam and How It Is Delivered
The exam is developed and scored by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). It is delivered as a computer-based test through Pearson VUE. The official exam information lives on the NCEES Structural exam page, and the exam specifications are published as official scope documents rather than a preparation curriculum. That distinction matters: the specifications tell you what may be tested, not how to study it.
The exam is closed book. NCEES supplies an electronic PE Structural Engineering Reference Handbook and specified electronic design standards, presented as searchable material organized by chapter. You cannot bring personal references. Units are USCS, and only approved calculators are allowed. Practicing with the same searchable-standard workflow you will see on test day is a real advantage, because speed in locating provisions affects how many questions you finish.
Four Sections, Not One Exam
The most common misunderstanding about the PE-S is its structure. It is not a single marathon sitting. The current exam is made up of four separately scheduled sections:
- Vertical breadth (Vertical Forces: gravity/other and incidental lateral)
- Vertical depth
- Lateral breadth (Lateral Forces: wind and earthquake)
- Lateral depth
Together, one attempt at all four involves 230 questions (170 scored and 60 pretest) and 23 hours of actual testing, spread across four separate appointments totaling 25 hours. It is not one 23-hour exam. Both the Vertical and Lateral components must reach acceptable results, and an acceptable completed-component result does not expire.
| Section | Questions (2026) | Scored / Pretest | Actual Testing Time | Appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical breadth | 55 | 45 / 10 | 5 h 30 min | 6 hours |
| Lateral breadth | 55 | 45 / 10 | 5 h 30 min | 6 hours |
| Vertical depth | 60 | 40 / 20 | 6 hours | 6 h 30 min |
| Lateral depth | 60 | 40 / 20 | 6 hours | 6 h 30 min |
Every appointment also includes a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, and a 20-minute scheduled break. Because the pretest items are unscored, you will not know which questions count, so treat every question as if it does.
What the Exam Actually Tests
The published specifications are organized as breadth outlines for each component and depth outlines for each option. For a full walkthrough of every heading, read PE-S Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 54 Content Areas. The 54 lines used on this site are sequential headings from the specifications, not 54 independent, equally weighted domains. No fixed percentage weights should be inferred from them.
Breadth: Vertical Forces
The Vertical breadth outline is split into Analysis of Structures and Design and Details of Structures. The published question ranges are 15-23 for Analysis and 30-48 for Design and Details. Topics include:
Analysis of Structures (Vertical)
Covers the loads and the mechanics used to get forces into members.
- Generation of loads
- Load distribution and analysis methods
Design and Details of Structures (Vertical)
The larger portion of the breadth section, spanning every major material and system.
- General structural considerations and structural systems integration
- Structural steel and cold-formed steel
- Concrete, wood, and masonry
- Foundations and retaining structures
Breadth: Lateral Forces
The Lateral breadth outline mirrors the same headings but applies them to wind and earthquake. The published ranges are 17-26 questions for Analysis of Structures and 28-46 for Design and Details. In both breadth outlines, Design and Details carries the larger range, which tells you where the bulk of your calculation practice should go. Subordinate examples in the outlines are not exclusive or exhaustive, so do not assume a topic is safe just because it is not named.
Choosing Buildings or Bridges for Depth
Depth is where you specialize. You choose either Buildings or Bridges, and you must use the same option in both the Vertical and Lateral components. You do not take both depth tracks.
Vertical Depth: Buildings
Scenario topics are steel, concrete, wood, and masonry structures. Knowledge areas include:
- Conceptual design and project planning
- Structural loading and analysis
- Design and details of elements
- Design and details of joints and connections
- Preparation of documents and construction administration
Vertical Depth: Bridges
Scenario topics are concrete superstructure, steel superstructure, and other elements of bridges such as culverts, abutments, and retaining walls. Knowledge areas cover conceptual design and project planning, structural loading and analysis, and design and preparation of details.
Lateral Depth: Buildings
Scenario topics include steel structure, concrete structure, wood and/or masonry structure, and general analysis (existing structures, secondary structures, nonbuilding structures, and/or computer verification). The same five knowledge areas as Vertical Buildings apply.
Lateral Depth: Bridges
Scenario topics are piers or abutments, foundations, and general analysis of seismic forces. Knowledge areas cover conceptual design and project planning, structural loading and analysis, and design and preparation of details.
Depth knowledge areas are introduced as topics that may be included. They are not guaranteed independent allocations, so do not budget your study time by dividing the exam evenly among them.
Question Style and Scoring
The two breadth sections use multiple-choice, single-response questions. The depth sections are different. Each 2026 depth section has five 12-item alternative-item-type scenarios. Four of them contain 10 scored and 2 pretest items, and one contains 12 pretest items. Alternative item types receive no partial credit, so a multi-step response that is almost right earns nothing for that item. In practice, this makes unit-check discipline and careful reading of each scenario essential.
NCEES uses an equated minimum-competence standard and does not publish a universal passing score. That means you cannot target a fixed raw number of correct answers. For more on how this works, see PE-S Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Fees, Registration and Scheduling Mechanics
The exam fee is USD 350 per section, which works out to a calculated USD 1,400 for one attempt at all four. That figure excludes licensing-board charges, preparation materials, and retakes. A full breakdown is in PE-S Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Scheduling is also split. Breadth is offered year-round, while depth is offered twice a year, in April and October. The next Lateral depth administration is October 27, 2026, and Vertical depth is October 28, 2026. Because depth windows are limited, a missed registration deadline can cost you months. See PE-S Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling for planning details.
What the Published Pass Data Shows
NCEES's pass-rate table, updated July 2026, reports results by section and by first-time versus repeat examinees. These are separate populations, not a single overall SE pass rate and not October 2026 outcomes.
| Section | First-Time | Repeat |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral breadth | 45% (167 examinees) | 26% (54) |
| Vertical breadth | 44% (209) | 45% (64) |
| Lateral depth - Buildings | 63% (131) | 73% (161) |
| Lateral depth - Bridges | 63% (32) | 57% (14) |
| Vertical depth - Buildings | 54% (188) | 68% (152) |
| Vertical depth - Bridges | 37% (46) | 56% (16) |
Treat the small-cohort rows, especially the Bridges options, with caution, since a few dozen examinees can swing a percentage widely. For interpretation, read PE-S Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the PE-S Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Who Hires Licensed Structural Engineers
The structural license matters most where an engineer must sign and seal structural work. Typical employers include structural engineering consultancies designing buildings and bridges, general civil and multidisciplinary firms with structural groups, state and local transportation agencies (especially for bridge work), and owners' engineering groups handling existing-structure assessment. The depth choice often mirrors your employer: building-focused firms see Buildings candidates, while DOT and bridge consultants see Bridges candidates. For the career side, see PE-S Jobs, PE-S Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis, and Is the PE-S Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026.
The April 2027 Format Change
Starting April 2027, each depth section changes to 48 questions, comprising 40 scored and 8 pretest, while keeping 6 hours of actual testing. The format includes multiple-choice plus alternative item types. The issuer posts separate 2027 specifications and standards, and they should not be applied to the October 2026 exam or to the domain scope described above.
Key Takeaway
Confirm which specification version applies to your test date. One NCEES candidate guide summary table lists 60 depth questions next to 2027 dates, but the dedicated Structural page specifies 48 beginning April 2027, and that version-specific notice governs.
Sequencing Your Preparation Around the Exam's Structure
Because the exam is split into breadth and depth with limited depth windows, the sequencing logic follows the schedule rather than a generic template. One sensible order: start with the breadth section for the component where you are strongest, since breadth is available year-round and gives you a low-risk read on the testing format. Build fluency in the searchable standards early, because chapter-by-chapter lookup speed affects every section. Reserve your heaviest calculation practice for Design and Details topics, given their larger published question ranges, then shift to depth scenario practice in your chosen Buildings or Bridges option before the April or October window. For a full plan, use the PE-S Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and keep the PE-S Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts handy for final review. You can also test your readiness with questions on the main practice test site.
Orientation and Standards Fluency
- Read the breadth specifications for both components
- Practice searching the electronic design standards by chapter
Breadth Calculation Volume
- Drill Design and Details across steel, concrete, wood, masonry, and foundations
- Cover loads and load distribution for gravity and lateral cases
Depth Scenario Practice
- Work multi-step alternative-item scenarios in your chosen option
- Practice without partial credit by checking units and assumptions
Frequently Asked Questions
On this site, PE-S means the NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering - Structural exam, officially labeled PE Structural and commonly searched as the SE exam. It is the structural engineering licensure exam.
No. The current exam is four separately scheduled computer-based sections: Vertical breadth, Vertical depth, Lateral breadth, and Lateral depth. In total they involve 230 questions and 23 actual testing hours across four sittings.
The fee is USD 350 per section, or a calculated USD 1,400 for one attempt at all four. That excludes board charges, preparation costs, and retakes.
Yes, for depth. You choose one option and must use it in both the Vertical and Lateral components. Breadth sections cover both Buildings and Bridges.
Not by itself. Eligibility, acceptance of the exam, license issuance, and renewal are controlled by your licensing board. See PE-S Certification and What Is PE-S Certification? for more context.